The Father Himself gives each heart a song to sing. Every one of His children has a unique voice – a melody no one else can carry. Yet none of us sings alone. We are part of a great, eternal chorus which simultaneously extols God’s story and brings it to pass. And while each song is unique, we learn to sing from others in the choir.
Some of us are called to study the history of the song. Others serve as voice coaches. My friend John Boyle does both while belting out his own melody.
I have known John for almost two decades now. I will never forget out first meeting. Thomas and I were excited because we had just filed papers to register the Austin House of Prayer as a legal non-profit organization. It felt like a big step to us and we were excited. When we told John, he replied, “The Lord told me he has enough non-profits. He is looking for prophets.”
I was impressed with his boldness and intrigued. There was a latent invitation in his warning. God is looking for prophets. For friends. Don’t be satisfied leading an organization when the Lord has a song for you to sing!
John has been a faithful friend to many, helping call forth our voices. He is also a student of the Great Song itself, listening for patterns and precedents which repeat themselves in new words and sounds, generation after generation. He has taught me that some individuals never sing their songs, and this is cause for lament. Some are too timid to raise their voices. Some are too distracted by the world to sing. Some never find their voice for they are mimicking others. Some simply refuse to enter the Song. Their hearts are hard toward both God and fellow men.
Likewise, there have been great singers throughout history whom God gives us as teachers. Every composer learns to love music by hearing someone else’s song. This is the great honor God gives His friends – to sing His praise with such beauty that others are drawn into the Song, into His story of Redemption, Love and Glory.
Below is a song my friend John wrote early this month. It is a song both old and new - a fresh rendition of a song the prophet Jeremiah wrote centuries ago. John’s writing is a puzzle for our generation, as Jeremiah’s preaching was for his. Puzzles are meant to be pondered, so I will not attempt an explanation of John’s unique style. But here is a clue – there are two Hebrew words in the song which play off one another. The Hebrew words for “almond” and “watching” sound very similar.
Jeremiah 1:11-19! And the word of the LORD! came to me, saying:!
c) "What do you see, Jeremiah?
1) And I said, "An almond-tree shoqed! wando I C?!" c)
2) & the LORDE!X! said to me, " You have seen W?eLL! c)
3) ThEpiphanY?Z! 4? IAM! vigilant! shaqed! with My word! 2 do? IT! c)
4) And the word of the LORD! 2 me? A.S?econd time!saying! c)
5) "What do you see?" c)
6) And I said, " A.S?ee?thing! pot! I see, 2 turnorussIA!" c)
7) And the LORD! said to me, " From the north shaLL come? thevil! b?roached!weLLERs! c)
8) 4 IAM! abouto caLL! c)
9) 4th! the clanorth! c)
10) they shaLL come sethrone! AT?hentrance! GA?tE.S! c)
11) Jerusalem! waLls!peak O?UT! Judgements againsthem! c)
12) 4 they 4sook! Me! burned IN?cense! tother gods! c)
13) BOWE?D?OWN! 2 work of their hands! c)
14) gird your loinspeak! aLL that I charge you! c)
15) Do not b?roken-spirited! c)
16) b4 them! made you 4tress! c)
17) Iron?Y! piLL?AR? bronZe! c)
18) againsthe/lords/Kings! c)
19) nobles/priests/we, the people! c)
20) they shaLL baT?T?le you! but N.O.t preVail! 4 IAM withee! c)
21)said the LORD! 2 save you! c)
This week John Boyle turned one year older. Happy Birthday, John! Thank you for helping me learn to sing!